DEPARTMENT OF ALTERNATIVE AND PUPPET THEATRE

Program Overview

Puppet Theatre as an Open Theatrical Form – From Initial Idea to Realization The Department of Alternative and Puppet Theatre has, in its fi fty-seven years of existence, achieved international renown. It is vitally connected to the distinguished tradition of Czech puppetry, yet integrates the newest theatrical trends in the areas of puppetry, multimedia and arts plastiques. The Department’s program places emphasis on student collaboration from various fi elds from acting to set design. Josef Krofta, the internationally renown puppet theatre director, and Marek Bečka, member of the Cakes and Puppets theatre company, serve as course leaders of the studio portion of the study program. During the course of four semesters, students will encounter other luminaries of Czech puppet and alternative theatre as well.

Study Program

The two-year Master’s program in English is geared for directors who would like to acquaint themselves with a wide-range of contemporary currents in puppet and alternative theatre. It is for individuals who would like to experience all the aspects of creating a theatrical mise-en-scene.

The goal of the program is to enable graduates to create a puppet, alternative or street performance of high artistic quality. This means the student will have thoroughly dealt with all particular tasks which the complex profession of director/performer involves.

Practical Proficiency

The foundations of the program involve practical work which provides the student with a hands-on experience in all the elements and phases of theatrical creation: selecting a theme; processing a text; scene design; music and choreography.

Theoretical Coursework

The study program also includes a series of theoretical seminars through which students acquainted themselves with Czech theatre history with a particular focus on puppet theatre, particularly contemporary alternative and puppet theatre in both in the Czech Republic and around the world.

Admission to the Program

To apply, students must have a B.A. or equivalent degree and demonstrate an appropriate level of spoken and written English for creative university study.

application deadline:  March 20, 2012
After April 6, 2012 you will be notified, if you fulfilled admissions criteria.
Entry exams: May 21, 2012

Applicants must submit:

• a motivational letter (including the reasons why they have chosen the program; a reflection of their practical experience to date; detailed description of their creative work including a dvd with work samples, a vision of their future professional activities)
• CV with photograph
• relevant qualifications (undergraduate degree or equivalent)
• completed written application
• an appropriate letter of reference

Selected applicants will be invited to attend an audition. In special cases, an online video audition may be arranged (e.g., via Skype).

Evaluation of candidates based on sent materials:

1. Detailed documentation of previous and current creative work (according to one's own selection), with DVD video.
2. Masters Studies Project - a written statement of their creative intentions connected with the masters studies

Assessment

In order to graduate, students must present a performance during the second year of their studies as well as a written thesis containing a refl ection of their artistic work.

Course Leaders

Prof. Josef Krofta - Since 1971, he has served as the artistic director and main theatrical director at Theatre DRAK. Under his leadership, DRAK has become one of the most famous puppet companies in Europe. From 1986–1990, he taught at the Institut International de la Marionnette in Charleville-Mézieres, France. He also served as a Professor at the Duketeater Akademi Fredrikstadt in Norway from 1990–1994. The Guggenheim Foundation invited him to represent Czech puppet theatre at a series of workshops in New York entitled Meeting with Masters. His international projects include the Czech-French project, “The Tower of Babel” (1993); the Czech-Israeli project, “Orpheus in the Underworld” (1996); and the Czech-Japanese production of “A Plague O’ Both Your Houses” (2001). The celebrated theatrologist Henryk Jurkowski dedicated an entire chapter to Krofta’s work in his book, Metamorphosis.

Doc. Marek Bečka is an actor and director. He is Artistic Director of one of the most famous contemporary Czech theatre companies, Cakes and Puppets, which has received a number of honors both in the Czech Republic and internationally. As a director, he also collaborates with other theatres and companies. MgA. Jiří Adámek, Ph.D. is a director, author and theatre critic. He is the founding director of BocaLoca LAB, a theatre company which has received numerous honors in the Czech Republic and internationally. He currently serves as editor of the journal Svět a divadlo (World and Theatre).